HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has reminded temporary and part-time Christmas staff of their right to be paid at least the national minimum wage.
Many industries, such as hospitality and catering, retail and courier services take on extra staff to cover the busy festive period. In response to this HMRC has launched a new online service aimed at making complaints about non-payment of the minimum wage easier.
Instead of phoning its helpline, employees now have the option of making complaints on the HMRC website at any time during the day or night.
Dawn Primarolo, HMRC paymaster general, said: "Our minimum wage enforcement teams have a great track record in securing arrears for people who have been paid less than the minimum wage.
"Employers and employees need to remember that anyone working on a temporary or part time basis over Christmas is still entitled to be paid at least the minimum wage."
The agency received a 50 per cent boost to its budget for minimum wage enforcement in this year's pre-budget report, enabling it to build on initiatives such as targeted education and enforcement for sectors where non-minimum wage payment is widespread.
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